All About History Books on Amazon

Westminster Chronicle of King Richard II, 1381-1394

The Westminster Chronicle is one of the most vivid and important narrative sources for the reign of Richard II. Written by an anonymous chronicler closely connected with Westminster Abbey, it covers the years 1381 to 1394, from the Peasants’ Revolt to the political tensions, court ceremonies, diplomatic negotiations, royal progresses, and public crises of Richard’s later reign. Rich in detail the chronicle records major events such as the conflicts between the King and Lords Appellant, King and the City of London, negotiations with France and Scotland, the death and funeral of Queen Anne of Bohemia, the illness of Charles VI of France, and the changing fortunes of leading nobles including John of Gaunt, Thomas of Gloucester, Robert de Vere, and the Earl of Arundel. The Chronicle offers readers a remarkable window into late fourteenth-century England, combining political observation, courtly spectacle, urban drama, ecclesiastical affairs, and moral judgement. It is an essential source for anyone interested in medieval monarchy, London, Westminster, and the troubled reign of Richard II.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

Bread Street, Bread Street Ward, City of London, England, British Isles

Bread Street is in Bread Street Ward.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 24th August 1553. Item, the next day a goodly masse songe [at] sant Necolas Wyllyms, in Laten, in Bredstrett.

Note. By "sant Necolas Willyns" or Wyllyms, (the MS. is uncertain) must be meant, it is presumed, the church of Saint Nicholas Olave's [Map], on Bread-street-hill, destroyed at the great fire of 1666.

On 9th December 1608 John Milton was born to John Milton [aged 46] and Sara Jeffrey [aged 36] in Bread Street.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 13th June 1663. Up and betimes to Thames Street among the tarr men, to look the price of tarr and so by water to Whitehall thinking to speak with Sir G. Carteret [aged 53], but he lying in the city all night, and meeting with Mr. Cutler the merchant, I with him in his coach into the city to Sir G. Carteret, but missing him there, he and I walked to find him at Sir Tho. Allen's in Bread Street, where not finding him he and I walked towards our office, he discoursing well of the business of the Navy, and particularly of the victualling, in which he was once I perceive concerned, and he and I parted and I to the office and there had a difference with Sir W. Batten [aged 62] about Mr. Bowyer's tarr, which I am resolved to cross, though he sent me last night, as a bribe, a barrel of sturgeon, which, it may be, I shall send back, for I will not have the King [aged 33] abused so abominably in the price of what we buy, by Sir W. Batten's corruption and underhand dealing.

Church of Augustin Friars Bread Street, Bread Street Ward, City of London, England, British Isles

In 1388 Richard Fitzalan 9th Earl of Surrey 4th or 11th Earl of Arundel [aged 42] was appointed Governor of Brest. He was buried at Church of Augustin Friars Bread Street.

Church of St Mary Aldermary, Bread Street, Bread Street Ward, City of London, England, British Isles

On 27th July 1556 William Laxton [aged 56] died. He was buried at Church of St Mary Aldermary. Thomas Lodge [aged 47] and his brother-in-law John Machel [aged 54] were principal mourners at his funeral. Both were overseer's of Laxton's will.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 9th August 1556. [The ixth day of August was buried sir William Laxton [deceased], late lord mayor, in the church of saint Mary Aldermary; with] a goodly hers with v prynsepalles, [and the majesty] and the valans gyltyd, and viij dosen of penselles [and] xiij dosen of skochyons and a half of bokeram; and a standard and iiij penons, and ij baners of [images]; and the howsse, chyrche, and the stret hangyd with blake [and] armes; and a cott armur and helmett, target, and sward, mantylles and crest a teyger-hed with a colynbyn and the slype. [There were two] grett and goodly whyt branchys, and xxxiiij stayffes torchys, and xxxiiij mantyll frysse gownes to powre men, and a c blacke gownes; morners master Loges altherman cheyff mornar and master Machyl secund morner and master Wanton iij morner, and dyver odur, the lord mare and master Whytt and dyvers odur, and alle the thodur althermen in vyolett; and then cam the women morners, lades and mony althermens wyffes and gentyll-women; and after durge to the plasse to drynke and the compene of the Grocers, and after prestes and clarkes, to the place to drynke, and the harolds, and the Waxchandlers and the Penters, to drynke, with mony odur. And the morow iij masses song, ij pryke songe and (the) iij(d) requiem; at masse dyd pryche doctur Harpsfelle archeydekyn; and after to dener, for ther was a grett dener as I have sene at any berehyng, for ther dynyd mony worshepfull men and women.

Before 10th September 1576 Joan Kirkeby died. She was buried at Church of St Mary Aldermary.

On 23rd April 1578 George Evelyn of Long Ditton [aged 48] and Joan Stint [aged 28] were married at Church of St Mary Aldermary. They had eight children, six of whom died young. The difference in their ages was 20 years.

In 1579 Anne Luddington [aged 56] died. She was buried at the Church of St Mary Aldermary.

On 28th February 1584 Thomas Lodge [aged 75] died. He was buried at the Church of St Mary Aldermary.

On 14th August 1610 Anthony Abdy [aged 30] and Abigail Campbell [aged 26] were married at the Church of St Mary Aldermary.

On 27th March 1622 Edward Wray and Elizabeth Norreys 3rd Baroness Norreys Rycote [aged 19] were married at Church of St Mary Aldermary. Christopher Villiers [aged 29], brother of George, Duke of Buckingham [aged 29], had, with Royal encouragement, sought her hand. To avoid being forced into a marriage with him she eloped with Edward Wray. She the daughter of Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire and Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote [aged 37].

George Inn, Bread Street, Bread Street Ward, City of London, England, British Isles

Henry Machyn's Diary. 8th December 1559. The viij day of Desember, was the day of the Conseption of owre Lade, was a grett fyre at the Gorge in Bredstret; yt begane at vj of the cloke at nyght, and dyd grett h[arm] to dyvers howses.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 13th December 1559. The sam day cam serten fellous unto the Gorge in Bredstret, wher the fyre was, and gatt in-to the howse, and brake up a chest of a clothear, and toke owtt xl lb. and after cryd fyre, fyre, so that ther cam ij C. pepull; and so they toke one.